Apparatus for washing separator-skimmers.



P. Ll KIMBALL.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING SEPARATOR SKIMMERS APPLICATION FILED JAN.12, 1914.

1 j 1 21 {73 1.. Patented Dec. 22. 1914.

PEKLEY L. KZMBALL, OF BELLOVI'S FALLS, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR,TO VERMONT FARM MACHINE GQMPANY, OF FELLOWS FALLS, VERMONT, A CORPORATION OF VERMONT.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING SEPARA'IOR-SIHIIIMERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 722., 1914.

Application filed January 12, 1914. Serial No. 811,865.

To all whom it may concern it known that I, Pnnnur L. Kminann, a citizen of the llnited States, residing at Bellows Falls, in the county of Windham and State of Vermont, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Washing Separator-Skimmers, of which the following is a full, clear. and exact description.

The primary object of this inv .ition to provide a self-contained, portable a .rg aratus for thoroughly and expeditiously caning the Skimmers or liners of atriiugal cream separators, without taking them apart.

llhe invention is in the nature of improve ments upon the washing apparatus of my case filed November 18, 1912, Serial No. 732,076, said improvements consisting, first. in the spring-pressed spindle for engaging one end of the skimmer or liner to hold it within the washer, and, second, in the whirl or head block to engage the other end of the skimmer or liner which in cooperation with the spindle supports the skimmer or liner within the washer in a horizontal position so that it may be turned, as I will proceed now to explain and finally claim.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a top plan view. with the cover removed, and showing the skimmer or liner in position to be cleaned, part or" the skimmer being broken out next to the spindle. Fig. S2 is a central longitudinal section, with the cover in place. Fig. 3 is a central transverse section, the lower part of the tank broken away. Fig. 4 is an elevationof that end of the skimmer which is engaged by the spindle. Fig. 5 is an elevation of that end of the skimmer which is engaged by the whirl or head block. Fig. 6 shows in perspective the component parts of the spindle packing, and Fig, 7 is a perspective view of the conical washer of such packing.

The invention is herein shown as designed for use in connection with a wellknown skimmer or liner, a type of which is illustrated in the Patent No. 920,481, dated May I, 19 09-although it is not thus limited. and may be adapted for use in cleaning or washing other forms of skimmer-s or liners, particularly those that need not be taken apart for cleaning.

The tank 1 may be of any suitable con than height or width, and its upper edge a may be headed or wired for reinforcement.

ihe cover is of the general outline of a truncated pyramid, having the flanged edges land of a size to fit within'the tank, in which it is supported upon any suitable supports, such as dents made in the sides of the tank. This cover is provided with a handle 6 which useful in handling the cover and in gripping the apparatus when in use. The cover is oi such height as to project above the walls ot the tank. It is to be noted that the sides and ends of the cover slope toward the walls of the tank, so that any water escaping from the tank while the washer is in operation, will be returned to the tank. In other words, the dropping of the cover inside the tank and below its upper edge and making it with sloping sides and ends extending centrally above the tank, results in the prevention of the slopping over of the washing agent when the apparatus is in operation.

The spindle T has at its inner end a head 8 adapted to engage one end of the skiinmer or liner, and it is arranged in a sleeve 9 which is fitted to one end of the tank and extencs both inside and outside o l the tank. The outer end of the sleeve is counter-bored at 10 to receive a washer ll and the Cotterpin 12 or otherfastening medium for securing the spindle in the sleeve. T he inner end of the sleeve is coneavepreferably, as indicated at 13, and against this end is placed a. packing ring ll which encircles the spindle. This packing ring preferably is made of felt or equivalent resilient or yielding material that will not harden under the action of water. as do leather and other solid materials. Furthermore, -felt has been found particularly serviceable in this connection because of its compressibility, and the 'aeility with whichit may be packed about the spindle and sleeve so as to insure a water-tight joint. To obtain the full value of these characteristics of the felt packing, there is used a conical or funnel-shaped metal washer 15 which embraces the felt packing and not only tends to force it into the concave inner end of the sleeve 9, but also to compress it diametrically about the spindle. Next to this conical washer is a fiat metal washer 16 which bears against the conical washer, and placed on the spindle washer l6 and the head otthe inane is a coiled spring 17 which keeps i ring and the two Washers chard the sleeve and so under eiii- -conditions. 18 is a heavy which surrounds the spindle, s, I, washers and sleeve, between the head oi the spindle ant. the adjacent end of the tank and normally exerting its force against the head. of the spindle to project the spindle inwardly with relation to the tank.

is is the v opposite on the slrinnner or liner. This Whirl is mounted upon. a shaft 21 which has a'bearing in a 22 forming part of a plate 93 which is to the end of the tank opposite the spindle, the axes of the spindle and whirl being alined. On the outer end of th. shaft 21 is a pinion 2% which is meshed by a gear wheel 25 having a bearingpn a stud shaft mounted on the plate 23, and provided With an operating handle 25 27, so that the whirl may be rotated.

. shown in Figs. 1 and 4:, one end of the skimmer or liner has a plate 28 provided with a hole 29 into which the head of the spind e enters, and as shown in Fig. 5, the other end of the skimmer or liner has the rods 30 for connecting its several sections 31, on which rods are the clamping nuts 32, and these nuts are engaged by the forks on the whirl. T he skimmer or liner is taken bodily from the separator bowl, and its hole is alined with the spindle head, and pres sure is then appliec to the skimmer in the d =cti of sleeve 9 thereby compressing; and 18 suiliciently to permit osite forks of are release s to force the hirl or head block, having at its incl toward the opposite end of the the s or the skimmer the s inal e and whirl in tl plane, in readiness to be rotated the P1119.

he provision oi the forks on {1G ends of -1- the forks to engage parts the Whirl to engage the nuts on the skimmer, gives access to these nuts so that they may be tightened should they Work loose in the operation of the apparatus, and also enables the operator to see the condition of the nuts as the Washing operation progresses.

The apparatus of the present invention has all of the advantages of the apparatus of the case hereinabove referredto, with the additional advantages incident to the new construction of cover, and the new construction 0i spindle packing, and the new construction of Whirl.

Variations in the construction are deemed to be within the scope of the claims following.

, What I claim is 1. In an apparatus for Washing separator Skimmers, a tank having a skimmer support comprising a spring-pressed spindle at one end having a head adapted to engage one end of the skimmer, a whirl having open tank, and a Whirl fitted in the tank at its' opposite end, said Whirl having its opposite ends forked and adapted to engage projectingparts on the skimmer thereliy rendering such projecting parts accessible and visible Whenever desired.

In testimony whereof l: have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of January, A. D. 191%.

FERLEY L. KEMBALL.

Vitnesses FRED C. HILDRETH, M. J. PIKE. 

